Zoe Kaplan, author of “The End of Rain” in The Future Fire #70, joins us for today’s micro-interview about her story, mountains, and other friends.
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| Art © 2024 Joyce Chng |
TFF: What does “The End of Rain” mean to you?
Zoe Kaplan: “The End of Rain” is a reflection on the end of a relationship. It's abstracted in the story, enough so that (hopefully!) all kinds of readers can resonate with it, but it grew out of one real specific friendship I had as a teenager. It was intimate and sustaining until it wasn't. Not every relationship gets to be forever, which sucks, but I'd like to think we're both stronger for the time we had together. At least, I am—and their Instagram makes it look like they're doing okay, too!
TFF: Which natural or geographical feature do you feel most affinity for?
ZK: I grew up in the Appalachian mountains, and they have my heart forever. And I love to be in a forest! The denser the trees, the less sky I can see, the better. I love the way a forest makes you feel so held.
TFF: What are you working on next?
ZK: I've got a story coming out at the end of this month from Dragon Gems. It's a contemporary sapphic retelling of Sleeping Beauty, with magic and swords and penthouses and subways. It should be a lot of fun! Follow my socials or my newsletter to be notified when it comes out. 😊 Beyond that, I'm currently working on a Gothic ghost story that's turning out way longer than I expected, so wish me luck taming that beast.
Extract:
I made my home on a patch of damp farmland. I was young and so was she, her trees mere saplings next to the neighboring forests. I tilled her soil and trimmed her branches, and in return, she provided me with fruits and grains, more than I could eat.
It rained often in those days. I would lie on the grass and let the water seep into us both as we talked for hours at a time. We were sustained like that for perhaps two years, growing into each other like vines.
Reminder: You can comment on any of the writing or art in this issue at http://press.futurefire.net/2024/07/new-issue-202470.html.
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